The Opening Ceremony of Festival of India was held on 10th January 2017 in Phnom Penh with a performance of Ramayana by Kalakshetra Foundation. The performance was staged at the premium theatre of Cambodia – Chaktomuk Theater. H.E. Ms. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, H.E. Mr. Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information, His Royal Highness Prince Norodom Sirivudh, Supreme Privy Councilor of HM the King and HE Ambassador Naveen Srivastava inaugurated the Festival by lighting the traditional lamp. The scintillating performance was welcomed by Cambodian audience, diplomats and other international and national guests who filled the Chaktomouk Hall to its capacity. In all more than 600 people enjoyed the spectacular dance drama. During three days of magnificent shows (10, 11, 12 January) in Phnom Penh, the Kalakshetra dance troupe received overwhelming response and every show attracted between 500-600 viewers. Ramayana had been chosen as the opening act as it is also popular in Cambodia and known as Ream Ke. The Culture Minister of Cambodia Ms. Phoeurng Sackona also joined the audience again for the show on 12 January to see another episode of Ramayana (Choodamani Pradanam).

In his opening remarks Ambassador welcomed the guests and said that the Festival of India events were aimed at strengthening the cultural relations between the two countries and in particular when India was commemorating 25th Anniversary of its relations with ASEAN. He added that the two countries shared age-old cultural and civilizational linkages and the story of Ramayana, as Ream Ke in Cambodia, reflected the deep cultural bonds between our two countries.